Means for testing or operating oil wells



oct. 12 192e.

H. A. STEELE MEANS FOR TESTING OR OPERATING OIL WELLS Filed Feb. l5. 1926 mgm:

3 www aooeo PATENT OFFICE.y

HAMPTON ADAMS., STEELE, 0l' LA WTON, OKLAHOMA-I..

MEANS FOR TESTING 0B OPERATING OIL WELLS. 'ri l Application led February 13, 1926. Serial No. 88,080.

This invention relates -to means Jfor testing or operating o'il wells before they are cased in, and particularly to means adapted to be used in connection with one or more packers according to a method similar -to that disclosed in U. S. Patent' No.

1,547,240 issued to me July 28, 1925.

y In carrying out the method as described in the above-mentioned patent, a4 du lex pipe line of special construction is use in the drilling operation, and when drilling is completed, or at any time durin the drilling operation, when it is deeme advisable to test for gas oroil, the pipe line is withdrawn from the hole, and the cutting tool, as well as the grief joint used in operating the same, are removed. A specially constructed pipe section and one or more packers are then attached to the lower end of the duplex pipe line, and the latter is again lowered into the well preparatory to the testing o eration.

One of the o jects of the present invention is to provide an attachment which may be used 1n connection with the ordinary single string of drill pipe for carrying vout substantially the same method, thereby obviating the necessity of using'a special set of drilling tools, and considerably reducing the expense of' the entire operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining a constant pressure on the packer, at the same time permitting a circulation of water or mud outside the drill pipe while a test is being made, thus preventing the hole from caving, and preventing the tools from freezing or sticking.

The specific construction of the invention in its preferred embodiment, and the principles of its operation will be more' fully explained in the following detailed description, which is to be considered in connection.

with the accompanying drawing illustrating the same.

In the drawing: v

Figure 1 is a side tion in position for operation. l

Figure 2` is a central vertical section through the invention.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section through a portion of the testing apparatus which is below the portion shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure? 2.

ed to receive the outer and inner 'elevation of the inven- Figure 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating one of the valves onv an enlarged 'l scale.

The present` invention is adapted to -be used in connection with-a single strin 'of .drill pipe 1, to the lower end of whic is connected a duplex pipe length, consisting of outer and inner pipe sections 2 and 3, respectively'. Each end of the outer pipe section 2 is threaded for a considerable distance to receive rings 4 which secure the ends of an inflatable paclier 5. Within this packer, the pipe section 2 is rovided with numerous holes 6, through w ich water or other Huid under pressure may be forced against the inside of the packer 5 to force the same against the sides of the hole, and eectually cut olf the strata to be tested from the strata above.

To the lower ends of the pipe sections 2 and 3 there is connected a duplex pipe length of special construction, consisting of outer and inner concentric sections 7 and 8, and numerous nipples 9 connecting the interior of the section 8 with the hole without materially obstructin the annular passage between the two sections 7 and 8. This duplex pipe length is connected to the sections 2 and 3 by a tool joint, consisting of two mating members 10 and 11, having concentric threaded flanges 12 and 13 adaptipe sections, which are connected by tllie joint. This tool joint has a central passage 14 providing communication between the pipe sections 3 and 8, andan outer passageway 15 aiording communication between the outer pipe sections 2 and 7. The adjacent ends of the members 10 and 11 are provided with circular grooves 16, so that the passageways 15 in the two' members will always be in communication when the joint is connected. If the test is made at the bottom of the well, only one packer will be need. If, however, the test is made on strata located at a considerable distance from the bottom of the well, a second packer may be used at the lower end of the sections 7 and 8, as described in the abovementioned patent.

The pipe section 2 is connected at its i described in the above-mentioned the latter with the Il@ face with an annular seat 19, adapted to receive the upper end of the pipe section 3 the latter lfor this reason beingra little s orter than the outer section 2. he bore through the head 18 is downwardly tapered to forni a conical seat 20, adaptedto reoeive the bevelled lower end of a tubing 21, which is lowered into the drill pipe y1y after ecker secured to its lower end is lowered into position for testing. The outer portion o l' the head 18 is provided with a number of ports lor assageways22 controlled -b downward y opening checla valves 23, vv ich permit water to be pumped through the drill pi e 1 and the pi e section 2 to inate the pac er, after the tu ing 21 has been seated, but prevent back pressure and deflation of the packer after operation of the pump has been sto pcd. 0

lrt will be understood that in using the device for testing, a pi e section 2.4 isconnected to the upper en of the drill pipe 1 Iin place of the grief ljoint. Thispipe section 24.- has a laterally disposed nipple 25 'to which may be connected a hose 26, leading from a rotary water pump. The up ei" end of the ipe section 24 is provided wit. a cap 27 or t e like, through which the pipe 21 is inserted, and a suita le discharge hose 28 may be connected to the upper end of the y pipe 21.

At some suitable point, preferably above the cou ling 17, one or more ports 29 are provide each of these -ports being formed with an outwardly facing conical seat adapted to receive the head of a relief valve 30. The stem ofthe valve inside the pipe is sur- 'rounded by a coiled spring 31 of suilic'ient strength to maintain the valve on its seat until a predetermined pressure is reached. Such pressure will be sufficient to inflate the packer 5 to cause it to be held firmly against the sides of the well, but will not be sufcient to burst the acker in case some unusual cavity or crevice should be met with. When the device is in operation, water or mud will be introduced through the drill pipe with sufficient pressure to be forced outwardly past the valves 30, and will circulate outside of the pipe 1, so as to prevent caving, and to prevent the pipe from freezing or sticking.

The apparatus herein described `will be used in substantially the same manner as that patent. After the cutting tool and ief joint are disconnected from the drill pipe, the packer and parts associated therewith are connected `to the lower end of the pipe line and loweredinto position. The section 24 is then connected to the upper end of the pipe line, and the pipe 21 is lowered until its lower end engages the conical seat 20. Before lowering the pipe 21, a plug will be inserted in its ylower end. After the acker has been inflated by water introduced) into the outer pipe section by the use of a rotary pump, a weight or go-devil is dropped down the inside of the pipe 21 to knock out the plug and permit the well to dow.

It the test does not show a satisfactory production, the testing apparatus may be withdrawn and the drilling o erations resumed. To facilitate the with rawal, ports 32 are provided in the head 18' leading from the conicalseat 20 to the interior of the packer section 2. 'llhese orts are covered uring the testing operation by the lower end of the tubing 21, but are uncovered as soon as the latter is raised and permit thc packer to collapse at once so that it may be readily withdrawn.

It is'to be understood that the apparatus attached to the lower end of the drill pipe 1 will include as many packers, and as many of the sections 7, 8 as may be necessary to shut oli' the strata to be tested from the other strata, leavin thel former free to flow through the nipples 9 and up through the tube 21.

The provision of'the head 18 with its conical seat makes it possible to carry out this method with the ordinar single string of drill pipe, thus obviating tile necessity ot' providing a special set of drilling tools.

he provision of one or more of the relief valves 30 makes it possible to keep the packer expanded with a constant maximum pressure. At the same time the water or fluid will be under suilicient pressure to open the valves and to circulate about the outside of the drill pipe, thereby preventin the hole from caving, and the pipe from reezing or sticking.

As explained in the above-mentioned patent, it is possible to determine the rate of flow of oi or gas, if any, before going to the expense of casing in the well. If dcsired, the apparatus may be left in the holc. and satisfactory reduction may be obtained without any casing at all. It is also possible to use a pum in the section 3, allowin vthe sucker ro to pass up through the tu e 21. If a number of productive sands are located at different levels, a sullicicnt number of duplex pipe sections and packers may be used to block oil' the various sands, and production may be obtained from all of them simultaneously.

While I have shown and described in dctail the specific construction of one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this is merely for the purpose of illustration, and that many modificationsthereof may be devised without departing from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed is: f

1. In an oil well apparatus, the combinadll lid

i tion bein and extending tion of a duplex pipe length comprising inner and outer pifpe sections, the outer section being perforate a acker secured around said outer section an enclosin said perf rations, and a head secured in t e upper end of said duplex pipe length, said head hav' ing a smooth conical seat with openings therethrough'into the outer pipe section, an and opening located centrally of the seat leading into said inner pipe. section, and ports outside of said seat leading into said outer pipe section.

2. In an oil well ap aratus,`the combination of a duplex pipe ength comprising inner and outer pipe "sections, the outer seci perforated, a acker secured around said outer section an enclosing said perforations, means for coupling the upper end of the outer section to the lower end of a single string of drill pipe, a head threaded into the upper end of said outer section and having means to secure said inner section, said head being formed in its upper face with a conical seat for receiving the lower end of a pi e when the latter is lowered within the rill pipe, said head having an opening within the seat leading into saidl inner pi e section, and ports outside of said seat lea ing into said outer pipe section.

3. In an oil well apparatus, the combination of duplex pipe length comprising inner and outer sections, a tool joint for connection to their lower ends, the upper end of the outer section being internally threaded inner section, a

head secured by the internal threads and having an annular seat in its -lower face receiving the upper end of said inner pipe section, means for couplin the up er end of the outer section to the iwer en of a single string of drill pipe, said head having a central bore leading into said inner pipe section, and ports leading into the outer pipe section, and a conical seat formed in the upper face of the head between said bore and ports for receiving the lower end of a tube when the latter is lowered withinl the drill 1 e. p In an oil well ap aratus, the combination of a duplex pipe ength comprising inner and outer pipe sections, the outer section being perforated, a acker secured around said outer section an enclosing said perforations, means for introducing fluid under pressure into the outer pipe section to inflate the packer, passageways affording communication between the inner pipe section and the earth strata below the packer means for conducting to the surface any oil which may flow from -said strata, and a relief valve above the packer to limit the pressure on the latter to a predetermined maximum and to permit said fluid to circulate around the outside of the pipe.

5. In an oil well apparatus, the combinabeyond the upper end of the' outer pipe section,

communication between the interior of the inner section and the sides of the well, but leaving sufficient room for free circulation of water through the outer section, an elastic packer adjacent said pipe sections, means or inflating the packer )y fluid introduced through said outer section, and a relief valve limiting the pressure on the packer to a predetermined maximum and permitting said fluid to circulate around the outside of the pipe above the packer.

6. In an oil well apparatus', the combination of a duplex pipe length comprising innei` and outer pi )e sections, the outer section being 'perforate a acker secured around said outer section an enclosing said perforat1ons, whereb the packer may be inflated by fluid intro uced under pressure through sald outer pipe section, 'a ort affording communication from the insi e of the outer pipe section to the well cavit outside the pipe and separated b the pac er from the strata to be tested, an a relief valve for said port to permit the fluid introduced into the outer pipe section to circulate around the outside of the pipe when its pressure upon the inside of the packer reaches a predetermined amount. l

7. In an oil well ap aratus, the combination of a duplex pipe ength comprising inner and outer pipe sections, the outer section being perforated, a packer secured around sa1d outer section and enclosing said perforations, a head secured in the upper end of said duplex pipe length, said head having a bore leading into said inner pipe section and forming a conical seat, and ports outside of said seat leading into said and a relief valve operable by the pressure of fluid in the outer section to limit the pressure on the packer to a predetermined maximum and to permit said fluid, to circulate around the outside of the pipe.

8. In an oil well apparatus,

ner and outer sections, the outer section being perforated, a packer secured around said outer section and enclosing said perforations means for coupling the upper end of the outer section to the lower en'd of a single string of drill pipe, a head threaded into the upper end of said outer section and having means to secure said inner section, said head being formed in its up r face with a conical seat for securing t e lower end of a tube when the latter is lowered within the drill pi e, said head having a central bore within t e seat leading into said inne-r pipe section and ports outside of said seat leading into said outer pipe section, and

the combina-l tion of a duplex pipe length comprising inmail a relief valve above the packer to limit the pressure on the latter to a predetermined maximum and to permit fluid introduced into said outer section to be expelled therethrough and to circulate around the outside of the drill pipe.

il. ln an oil well apparatus, the combination or' a duplex pipe length comprising inner and outer pipe sections, the outer section being perforated, a packer secured around Said outer section and enclosing said perlorations, a head ,secured in the upper end oi said duplex pipe length, said head having a central. downwardly tapered bore forming a seat, said bore leading into the inner pipe section, ports outside of seid seat leading into said outer pipe section, and cheek` valves preventing back pressure through said ports.

l0. lfn an oil wellepparatus, the combiheadset nation of a duplex pipe length comprising inner and outer pipe sections, the outer section being perforated, a packer secured around said outer section and enclosing said perforations,v a head secured in the upper end of said duplex pipe length, said head having a ventral downwardly tapered bore leading into said inner pipe section and forming a seat, a tubing havinfr a tapered lower end adapted to rest on said seat, ports through said head outside of said seat, cheek valves preventing back pressure through said ports, and other ports leading from the tapered seat to said outer section and covered by the lower end of said tubing when the latter is seated.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, l have hereto affixed my signe.-

ture.

HAMPTON ADAMS STEELE. 

